Connecticut Mayor Seeks State Soda Tax

by Christopher Freeburn | February 10, 2014 11:17 am

Sugary sodas will cost more in the Nutmeg state[1] if a Connecticut mayor has her way.

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Source: Flickr[3]

Toni Harp, mayor of New Haven, Conn., wants to impose a 2% tax on calorie-laden soda’s sold in the state. The Connecticut mayor says proceeds of the tax could add $144 million to the state’s coffers. The Connecticut mayor also hopes that the higher price of sugary sodas will persuade some consumers to seek healthier beverages, cutting obesity, the Associated Press notes.

While there has been some discussion of a soda tax in the state, the Connecticut mayor can only advocate for a soda tax in the state. The state legislature would have to pass legislation to impose the tax statewide.

The Connecticut mayor is following in the footsteps of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg who imposed a ban on the sale of sugary sodas in cups over 16 ounces[4] in 2012. The ban was meant to combat obesity.

Merchants and some consumers objected to Mayor Bloomberg’s ban and contested it in court. Last year, an appeals court struck down the ban[5], upholding a lower court’s ruling that the mayor had overstepped his authority.

Soda makers PepsioCo (PEP[6]), Coca-Cola (KO[7]) and Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS[8]) have come under increasing criticism from health advocates and anti-obesity campaigners[9] in recent years over the calorie and sugar content in many of their beverages.